Every work that we do, every movement of the body,
every thought that we think, leave such an impression on the mind-stuff, and
even when such impression are not obvious on the surface, they are sufficiently
strong to work beneath the surface, subconsciously. What we are every moment is
determined by the sum total of these impressions on the mind. What I am just at
this moment is the effect of the sum total of all the impressions of my past
life. This is really what is meant by character; each man’s character is
determined by the sum total of these impressions. If good impressions prevail,
the character becomes good; if bad, it becomes bad. If a man continuously hears
bad words, thinks bad thoughts, does bad actions, his mind will be full of bad
impressions; and they will influence his thought and work without his being
conscious of the fact. In fact, these bad impressions are always working, and
their resultant must be evil, and that man will be a bad man; he cannot help
it. The sum total of these impressions in him will create the strong motive
power for doing has actions. He will be like a machine in the hands of his
impressions, and they will force him to do evil. Similarly, if a man thinks
good thoughts and does good works, the sum total of these impressions will be
good; and they, in a similar manner, will force him to do good even in spite of
himself. When a man has done so much good work and thought so many good
thoughts that there is an irresistible tendency in him to do good, in spite of
himself and even if he wishes to do evil, his mind, as the sum total of his
tendencies, will not allow him to do so; the tendencies will turn him back; he
is completely under the influence of the good tendencies.
When such is the case, a man’s good character is said to be established.
When such is the case, a man’s good character is said to be established.
If you really want to judge of the character of a
man, look not at his great performances. Every fool may become a hero at one
time or another. Watch a man do his most common actions; those are indeed the
things which will tell you the real character of a great man. Great occasions
rouse even the lowest of human beings to some kind of greatness, but he alone
is the really great man whose character is great always, the same wherever he
be.
All the actions that we see in the world, all the
movements in human society, all the works that we have around us, are simply
the display of thought, the manifestation of the will of men. Machines or
instruments, cities, ships, or men-of-war, all these are simply the
manifestation of the will of man; and this will is caused by character, and
character is manufactured by Karma. As is Karma, so is the manifestation of the
will. The men of mighty will the world has produced have all been tremendous
workers- gigantic souls, with wills powerful enough to overturn worlds, wills
they got by persistent work, through ages, and ages.
We are what our thoughts have made us; so take care
of what you think; Words are secondary. Thoughts live, they travel far. Each
thought we think is tinged with our own character, so that for the pure and
holy man, even his jests or abuse will have the twist of his own love and
purity and do good.
Great work requires great and persistent effort for
a long time. Neither need we trouble ourselves if a few fail. It is in the
nature of things that many should fall, that troubles should come, that
tremendous difficulties should arise, that selfishness and all the other devils
in the human heart should struggle hard when they are about to be driven out by
the fire of spirituality. The road to the Good is roughest and steepest in the
universe. It is a wonder that so many succeed, no wonder that so many fall.
Character has to be established through a thousand stumbles.
The mind, to have non-attachment, must be clear,
good, and rational. Why should we practice? Because each action is like the pulsations
quivering over the suface of the lake. The vibration dies out, and what is
left? The samskaras, the impressions. When a large number of these impressions
are left on the mind, they coalesce and become a habit. It is said, “Habit is
second nature”, it is first nature also, and the whole nature of man;
everything that we are is the result of habit. That gives us consolation,
because, if it is only habit, we can make and unmake it at any time. The
samskaras are left by these vibrations passing out of our mind, each one of
them leaving its result. Our character is the sum-total of these marks, and
according as some particular wave prevails one becomes good; if wickedness, one
becomes wicked; if joyfulness, one becomes happy. The only remedy for bad habits
is counter habits; all the bad habits that have left their impressions are to
be controlled by good habits. Go on doing good, thinking holy thoughts
continuously; that is the only way to suppress base impressions. Never say any
man is hopeless, because he only represents a character, a bundle of habits,
which can be checked by new and better ones. Character is repeated habits, and
repeated habits alone can reform character.
Give up, renounce the world. Now we are like dogs
strayed into a kitchen and eating a piece of meat, looking round in fear lest
at any moment some ne may come and drive them out. Instead of that, be a king
and know you own the world. This never comes until you give it up ad it ceases
to bind. Give up mentally, if you do not physically. Give up from the heart of
your hearts. Have vairagya (renunciation). This is the real sacrifice, and
without it, it is impossible to attain spirituality. Do not desire, for what
you desire you get, and with it comes terrible bondage.
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